The 72nd Annual AIPS Congress was held at the Marriot Hotel, Milan from April 29 - May 3, 2009. More than 350 delegates from 110 member nations as well as guests from the world of sport attended.

The official congress business was preceded by a press conference with international pole vault star and current World and Olympic champion, Yelena Isinbayeva , her coach Vitaly Petrov, and former pole vault champion, IOC member and IAAF Vice-president, Sergey Bubka. AIPS President Gianni Merlo also took part. The press conference was moderated by French television journalist Marc Maury.